A few days later, news spread.

Princess Consort Xian had always cared for Wen Wan, daughter of the late Tutor Wen Jie. Taking advantage of her birthday celebration on the eighth of this month, with double happiness, she adopted her as her goddaughter.

Not only that, but there was another joy—Wen Wan’s marriage.

It was said that several years ago, while she was still in mourning, the Wen family and the Zhou family of the Inner Secretariat had already shown mutual interest. Now with all preparations complete, they were formally arranging the marriage. The old princess consort served as matchmaker, the two families officially allied, and the date was set, striking while the iron was hot, in three months.

Now no one dared speak idle words about the Wen family behind their backs, and the previously quiet Wen family gate became bustling again. As for the old Princess Consort Xian’s birthday, it became a major event attracting attention from Chang’an’s noble ladies recently.

The reason for such attention was twofold: first, Princess Consort Xian’s position commanded respect, and it was said the current young emperor would personally leave the palace to celebrate her birthday—such honor was unprecedented in Chang’an.

The other reason was that everyone heard the Regent Princess, the female general who had refused all social engagements, would also attend to celebrate the old princess consort’s birthday. This was perfectly natural.

Now, except for ignorant common folk, no noble lady in Chang’an mentioned the female general’s former rumors anymore. Those were old news that should be turned over. The hottest current talk about the female general was that on the second day after her wedding, when she entered the palace to pay respects to Grand Empress Dowager Dunyi, she publicly gave the Eldest Princess Nankang a warning. This matter caused great sensation and was known to all.

Though the Eldest Princess Nankang held noble status with great dignity, Chang’an was full of people who couldn’t stand her. After all these years, finally seeing her lose face was like the sun rising in the west. Moreover, another was saying that she was not only fierce in character but also beautiful, keeping the Regent Prince firmly in her palm—the Regent Prince was submissive and obedient to her.

Rumors flew everywhere, and people’s curiosity about the female general princess grew even stronger. Who wouldn’t want to see her up close when the time came?

The eagerly anticipated eighth day finally arrived.

In the morning, Regent Prince Shu Shenhui was still in the palace. He would handle affairs as usual in the morning, then return in the afternoon to go with the princess to Prince Xian’s residence for the birthday celebration.

After a busy morning, one final matter remained. The Court of Judicial Review had submitted a batch of recently concluded death penalty cases to the Ministry of Justice, which reviewed them before reporting to the Secretariat and Imperial Chancellery. Because they involved capital punishment, being matters of life and death, the final step by custom was submission to the emperor for approval.

Now with the Regent Prince serving as regent, naturally they were submitted to him. After Secretariat Director Fang Qing presented the case files, he stepped aside to wait, ready for inquiries.

Shu Shenhui gave the files to the young emperor, teaching him to carefully review them. But Shu Jian’s mind was entirely on leaving the palace today—outside the birds sang and flowers bloomed in bright sunshine, yet he had been nailed to his chair for half the day, long unable to sit still. How could he focus on this? Not daring to show it too obviously, he accepted the files and perfunctorily glanced through them, about to muddle through when he suddenly exclaimed “Eh!” with interest. After reading carefully for a while, he burst into giggles.

Seeing Shu Shenhui’s gaze, he pushed the file over: “Third Uncle, look quickly—a monk from Huguo Temple committing adultery! When Mother went to the temple for her birthday last time, I saw all the monks there looking honest. How could they be so impure and do such things!”

Shu Shenhui took it and scanned a few lines.

The case described a monk from Huguo Temple committing adultery with a good family. According to testimony, the monk was extraordinarily endowed, and the woman was devoted to him. To become long-term spouses, she poisoned her husband, and both were sentenced to death. But the monk protested, claiming he only committed adultery and never incited murder. The case stalled until investigation revealed that not only this one woman, over several years, the monk had carnal relations with dozens of women, many of them prominent Chang’an noble ladies who were temple patrons. Because this monk was skilled in exotic techniques, numerous women worshipped him, calling him a living Buddha, and privately contributed vast wealth for his extravagance.

“Secretariat Director, where is this monk now? I want to see him—just how formidable is he?” The young emperor stared at the case file’s description of “extraordinary endowment” for a moment, then looked up and asked Fang Qing with great interest.

Fang Qing looked embarrassed, mumbled something about imprisonment awaiting execution, then looked toward the Regent Prince, adding: “After review by the Three Judicial Offices, they found his corruption of morals especially heinous. To set the record straight, they also sentenced him to death, with punishment increased by one degree—death by waist-cutting. Whether this case is judged too harshly, please let His Majesty and the Regent Prince review.”

After Fang Qing finished speaking, he saw Shu Shenhui holding the file with a slightly fixed gaze, as if lost in thought about something. He coughed to remind him.

Shu Shenhui didn’t know why, but upon seeing this case, he inexplicably immediately thought of another monk from this one. Though the two monks were worlds apart with no connection, he couldn’t help feeling extremely disgusted. Brought back by the Secretariat Director’s cough, he turned to see the young emperor looking extremely curious, then threw down the file and said coldly: “Such a demon monk, having entered Buddhism, instead of properly chanting sutras, defiles the pure land and harms good families—the influence is especially vile! Given his status, he’s even more detestable! Handle according to legal precedent. The Three Judicial Offices’ judgment is correct.”

The young emperor secretly stuck out his tongue and immediately abandoned the idea of going to have a look.

Actually, among the death row prisoners in the files, all had committed capital crimes, including many extremely vicious criminals. In terms of impact, this monk’s crimes were relatively light, at least according to testimony, the women were willing. He didn’t know why Third Uncle was particularly disgusted only with this monk, his stern wording quite rare.

“Yes, the Regent Prince speaks truly.” Fang Qing responded.

“Your Majesty, there’s not much left. Hurry to finish reading, then Your Majesty can prepare to leave the palace and celebrate Princess Consort Xian’s birthday.”

Shu Shenhui reminded the young emperor.

Shu Jian agreed, rallied his spirits to read the files, finished reviewing them all, stamped his seal, and returned them to the Secretariat Director. This morning’s affairs were finally complete.

“Third Uncle, I’m ready to go!”

As soon as Fang Qing left, Shu Jian sprang up. Seeing him nod, he dashed out of the imperial study and quickly departed.

Shu Shenhui first returned to Wenlin Pavilion to collect his things, unexpectedly finding Chen Lun waiting for him there.

Chen Lun had married Princess Yongtai, Prince Xian’s daughter. Today, being the old princess consort’s birthday, as son-in-law, he naturally needed to help more. Shu Shenhui had given him leave to return early, so seeing him still here was unexpected. He asked what matter brought him.

After paying respects, Chen Lun showed difficulty, as if having something hard to say.

Shu Shenhui had known him for years—in youth, their relationship was close enough to share beds and baths, calling each other by courtesy names. Though in recent years Chen Lun maintained proper etiquette due to their positions and they no longer had youthful casualness, their relationship remained. How could Shu Shenhui not see he had something to say? He dismissed everyone.

“Zijing, speak freely about whatever matter you have—no one is near.” Shu Shenhui smiled.

Only then did Chen Lun reveal his purpose. He said recently he’d been too busy with official duties, often not returning home and sleeping directly at the office. As a result, the princess misunderstood, thinking he had another woman outside, and made a huge scene in their room.

His face showed shame: “It’s my incompetence. Yongtai is more domineering than a tigress—if I say east, she won’t let me go west. Usually, I let her suppress me everywhere. Now she’s making such a fuss, I could only apologize. Finally managed to appease her. I want to take this opportunity to bring her to stay at Warm Spring Station for a few days. I’ve arranged office matters and want to request a few more days’ leave from you…”

Shu Shenhui was greatly surprised. Princess Yongtai was older than him, and being Prince Xian and his wife’s late-born daughter, she was somewhat spoiled. But usually she appeared only slightly more lively than ordinary women. He never imagined that behind closed doors, she could be so fierce. Looking at his friend, who was also dignified and respected outside, he suddenly noticed what seemed like a not-quite-faded scratch mark at his temple—presumably left by Princess Yongtai.

He had thought only he was most useless, not expecting Chen Lun to be hardly better.

Besides sympathy, Shu Shenhui suddenly felt much better, suppressing laughter and nodding: “Good, family matters are important—can’t afford to offend a tigress. I grant you three days’ leave!”

Chen Lun was delighted, repeatedly expressing thanks.

“Since Yongtai is so willful, how did you appease her? Did you give her some fine things that women like?”

Shu Shenhui suddenly had a thought and casually asked.

But Chen Lun wouldn’t say. Shu Shenhui laughed: “What, what treasure did you give? Can’t be spoken of?”

Chen Lun coughed: “Nothing much, just spent more time with her at home behind closed doors…”

Shu Shenhui initially didn’t understand, but suddenly seeing a hint of pride in his expression, after years of friendship, he immediately grasped the meaning. Pointing at him with two laughs: “My fault—I usually give you too much work. When the princess sees me, she’ll probably scold me.”

Chen Lun hurried to say: “Would she dare? It’s just our trivial domestic matters making the Regent Prince laugh.”

Shu Shenhui stopped joking and asked which hot spring he planned to visit. Learning he intended to go to the Chen family’s villa there, he said: “Take the princess to Xianquan Palace instead.”

Xianquan Palace was a palace estate Emperor Wu had granted his imperial consort mother, built around a hot spring that was the finest around Chang’an, with pavilions and towers like a fairyland.

Princess Yongtai had originally wanted to go there, saying she’d ask the Regent Prince’s brother herself. But Chen Lun feared appearing presumptuous and currying favor, so he firmly refused to let her come. Hearing the Regent Prince speak thus, he was naturally delighted but hesitant, somewhat afraid to accept: “This might not be proper…”

Shu Shenhui said, “What’s improper? It’s empty anyway—just go stay there.”

Chen Lun stopped being polite and bowed in thanks.

Shu Shenhui tidied up and, seeing the time was about right, left the palace together with Chen Lun. Passing near the Imperial Medical Academy, the Imperial Physician Director and several medical officials were approaching from the opposite direction. Seeing them, they hurried forward to pay respects, then went their separate ways.

Chen Lun was running a bit late and eager to leave the palace, walking faster and faster. Seeing Shu Shenhui walking slower and gradually falling behind, he waited. Then he saw him suddenly stop: “Zijing, you go ahead. I suddenly remembered another matter I haven’t handled. I’ll go back to handle it, then return to the residence to fetch the princess.”

Naturally Chen Lun wouldn’t ask what matter it was, immediately nodding: “Good, see you later. This minister will go first—Your Highness, take your time.”

Shu Shenhui stood in place, watching Chen Lun hurry away, then looked back toward the Imperial Medical Academy and walked in.

The Imperial Physician Director and medical officials were busy with their various tasks. Seeing him arrive, they all came to pay their respects.

“I have no urgent matter—I’m just planning to compile a comprehensive medical text when I have leisure in the future. Having free time now, I’ve come to consult medical books.”

The Regent Prince had many former interests—he excelled in calligraphy and was skilled in metal and stone seal carving. His sudden inspiration to compile medical texts was naturally a good thing. The Imperial Physician Director personally led him to the library, saying all medical books were categorized by subject—major prescriptions, minor prescriptions, women’s medicine, health preservation, etc., covering everything. Whatever he wanted, he could search by category.

The Regent Prince told the Imperial Physician Director to attend to his affairs without accompanying him. He stayed alone in the library for about half an hour. When he emerged, his steps were light and quick as he directly left the palace gates, returning to the Regent Prince’s residence.